Director of Music

Recruitment Pack and Further Information

DEAN DC CLOSE

SENIOR S CHOOL DEAN DC CLOSE CHELTENHAM

SENIOR S CHOOL

Contents

1. Welcome from the Headmaster 2. The School 3. The Foundation 4. The Aims 5. Organisation Chart 6. Job Description 7. Location Welcome from the Headmaster

Dean Close School is fortunate in so many ways. Its Dean Close’s Christian ethos informs much of what we do Cheltenham location places the School at the heart of a and reminds us of the intrinsic value of each individual and our beautiful town that is focused on learning and music through commitment to help them to flourish. This commitment has its great schools, festivals and accessibility to Birmingham, been at the heart of Helen Porter’s outstanding leadership of Bristol and Oxford. Situated on the edge of the Cotswolds, the Music Department. As Helen retires after 32 years at the just 5 minutes walk from the mainline railway station and 7 School, she leaves behind a community that is musically alive, minutes to the motorway, Dean Close is a great place to live a team of inspirational colleagues and an enviable local and and work. regional reputation for excellent musicianship.

The School’s founders and successors have provided an Thank you for taking the time to look at this exciting role at outstanding site for a centre of education. With huge green Dean Close. I hope that your investigations leave you with a spaces and incredible facilities all located on 54 acres of strong sense of a school that is committed to the arts not only central Cheltenham, the diverse community of day pupils, for its own sake, but for society as a whole. Dean Close flexi-boarders and full boarders have an excellent environment School is in a great place right now but it is the next stage that in which to learn and an inspiring place for teachers to teach. is most exciting. The one word that comes up time again in pupil, parent and staff questionnaires when asked about Dean Close is Bradley Salisbury ‘community’. This sense of community comes from the Headmaster of tradition of the school to support and take an interest in others. This is seen everywhere, from the large audiences that are attracted to concerts and plays or the one-to-one conversations between teachers and pupils, the relationships between year groups or the strong bonds that exist between colleagues. The School

Dean Close Senior School is a flourishing co ‑educational day A £3m sports hall providing state-of-the-art facilities was and boarding school for pupils aged 13 ‑18 years, located on officially opened by Sir Geoff Hurst in 2007. The building the largest private land area in Cheltenham. It offers strong accommodates basketball, football, hockey, badminton, academics, extensive opportunities in all creative arts and tennis, volleyball, netball and cricket, enhancing wet weather sport with a national reputation in hockey, drama and programming and allowing a broader range of coaching equestrianism. A Dean Close education aims not only to techniques. A fitness suite fitted with hi-tech training get the best out of pupils academically, but to broaden the equipment and weights, dance/aerobics studio, seminar horizons of each and every one through an array of room, a viewing gallery also feature. Other excellent facilities exceptional facilities, as well as dozens of clubs and societies. for sport include two floodlit water based astro turfs, a 25m As a school with a strong Christian ethos, pastoral care is indoor pool, tennis courts, athletics field including throwing paramount, and each member of the community is cage, squash courts, rifle range and climbing wall. encouraged, through the house and tutor systems, to realise An exceptional two-storey Art School provides a versatile, their greatest potential. spacious and creative environment. The entrance opens into the BonBernard Gallery, a light, lofty space that hosts a broad range of both pupil and visiting exhibitions. The facility also boasts excellent studio spaces for specialist work in 2 and 3 dimensions, with individually allocated work areas for Sixth Form pupils.

As a specialist facility, the Music School has been able to accommodate every amenity from a hi-tech recording studio to an elegant concert hall. Almost half the members of School play a musical instrument with over 300 music lessons taking place each week. An extensive number of vocal, chamber and orchestral groups exist, including Orchestra, Sinfonia, Choral Society, Chapel Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Band and The School has a sympathetic blend of grand Victorian Chamber Choir, as well as numerous chamber ensembles and buildings and modern purpose-built facilities across its rock bands. The internationally renowned Carducci Quartet substantial 50 acre site. It is within walking distance of the leads the Strings Department. centre of Cheltenham, an attractive and expanding town, but is close to motorway links and open countryside. This is an One of the School’s newest facilities is a fully kitted out exciting time to join the School as plans begin for some major professional kitchen which accommodates a wide range of building works and renovations. co-curricular cooking activities at each age level, as well as delivering the new GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition The School’s ethos underpins all its activities and its course and the Leiths Certificate in Food and Wine. commitment to service, including an extensive Community Action programme. There is a strong sense of community and staff and pupils alike are friendly and supportive. There is a well-developed and effective pastoral system based on the belief that each individual is equally valuable. With almost 500 pupils, the School is small enough to allow everyone to know one another, feel valued and get fully involved, yet large enough to have an extremely strong boarding community and provide a fantastic all-round experience for every pupil. The Foundation The Aims

In 2015 Dean Close became a Foundation, with four schools Dean Close welcomes pupils with a broad range of abilities, and three nurseries within the group, and a Warden appointed aiming to give each and every one a well-rounded education, to head the Foundation. Dean Close Senior School, Prep blending good academic performance with real achievement School and Pre-Prep reside on one site in Cheltenham, with in their individually-discovered talents. It encourages St John’s on-the-Hill Prep School, Hedgehogs and Robins independent thinking and the self-confidence to challenge nurseries in , and Teddies Nursery in Newport. the status quo. There is also a strong and growing commercial arm, Dean Close Services, which is making a significant financial The School seeks to treat every member of its family as contribution to the group. unique and equally valuable. With its Christian Foundation, it aims to uphold the Christian faith as a positive influence for all, including those who do not share this faith, welcoming families from all denominations and none. The ethos challenges selfishness and holds community, respect for others, relationship and service at the heart of the School.

The Headmaster, Bradley Salisbury, is passionate educationalist who believes that schools exist to prepare pupils for their best days to come, as leaders, as employees, as spouses, as parents and as neighbours. This is achieved by providing the right level of obstacle for each individual, obstacles that inspire them to reach higher and to develop their character. School should not just be about making life easy, but about providing the right balance of success and failure to help individuals to flourish. Dean Close Senior School Organisation Chart

Board DEAN of Trustees DC CLOSE FOUNDATION

The Warden Warden & CEO Ms Emma Taylor MA (Oxon) Emma Taylor Bursar Mr A P Bowcher, MBA, FCIB, DipFS

The Board of Trustees

Mrs S Bullingham, MSc, BSc Headmaster Mrs Kathryn Carden, MPhil, BA Bradley Salisbury The Revd Richard Coombs, BSc, MA Mrs Helen Daltry, BA Mr Stephen Drew, MA Mr Ian Duffin, FCA, Bcom Mr Richard Harman, MA Mrs Sara Hirst, BEd Deputy Head Mrs Audrey Marsden, MSc, BSc Andrew Hall Mrs Karen Riding, LLB Mr Mark Smith, MA Lt Col Edward Taylor, BA, RA

Deputy Head (Academic) DEAN James Hole DC CLOSE CHELTENHAM

SENIOR S CHOOL Deputy Head (Pastoral) Senior Leadership Team Jacquie Davis Headmaster: Mr Bradley Salisbury, MEd, PGCE Deputy Head: Director of Mr Andrew Hall, BA (HMS) Admissions Rebecca Chaplin Deputy Head (Academic) Mr James Hole, MA, PGCE Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs Jacquie Davis, MA, PGCE Operations Director of Admissions: Bursar Mrs Rebecca Chaplin Stephen Ewence Operations Bursar: Mr Stephen Ewence, NEBOSH DEAN DC CLOSE CHELTENHAM

SENIOR S CHOOL Job description for DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

The Department Academic Music

The Director of Music leads a large team of talented musicians, The academic life of the department continues to thrive with both including: GCSE and A Level candidates being prepared for public examinations. The results are consistently excellent and generally • Full time Teacher of Music and Director of Jazz, Concert factor amongst the top grades achieved by pupils at Dean and Rock bands Close. This has often led to Decanians continuing to study music • Director of Choral Music and Director of at university. Abbey Schola Cantorum • Carducci Quartet - Quartet in residence and “Head of Facilities Strings” • Head of Brass The Music School includes the Prince Michael Hall, which is a • Music Administrator 120 seater recital hall with a Steinway Model D piano, a collection • Resident organ scholar of individual and group teaching spaces, an IT suite, recording • 20 + visiting instrumental teachers studio, offices and a common room for visiting teachers.

Events & Ensembles The Chapel plays a central role in the musical life of the school with services taking place three times a week for the whole Currently, pupils are members of: school. This is greatly enhanced by the Nicholson organ that was • Orchestra installed in 2014. • Sinfonia • Ripieno strings Partnerships • Chapel Choir Dean Close School is keen to play a full and active role in the • Chamber Choir development of music and the arts in . Amongst • Close Harmony a number of informal partnerships, Dean Close currently works • DC Voices with of Music, Cheltenham Education • Choral Society Partnership, , Cheltenham Festivals and the • Concert Band Christian Arts Festival. • Jazz Band • Chamber Music groups including Sax, Flute and Brass groups, String Quartets & Piano Trios

There is an annual programme of concerts that includes two concerts in our 600 seat Bacon Theatre, a concert at the Pump Rooms, lunchtime concerts, scholars’ recitals and the annual music competitions, both solo singing and instrumental. There is also, of course, the high profile whole school, house singing competition.

In recent years, the chapel choir has sung evensong at Tewkesbury Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and St George’s Chapel, Windsor. They have also enjoyed hugely successful tours to New York, Barcelona and Venice. They will be committed to building on the School’s reputation as a centre of musical excellence, will seek to develop partnerships, exploit the School’s facilities for the benefit of the Gloucestershire community and play an active role in the marketing of the School through relationship building with local and regional schools.

They will have outstanding organisational and leadership skills, alongside the ability to build warm, genuine and collegiate working relationships.

The Director of Music line-manages the academic music teachers, Director of Choral (in relation to musical duties in school), Quartet in Residence, Administrator and all other music teachers.

The Director of Music is responsible to the Headmaster of Dean Close School, and is line-managed by the Deputy Head (Operations).

Job Description

The Director of Music is responsible for providing professional leadership and management of all aspects of the musical life of Dean Close School, in order to secure the highest standards of musical achievement and progress for all pupils, and in order to support the School’s strategy.

The Director of Music will be bold, creative, innovative and an effective collaborator with experience in conducting orchestras, choirs and/or other ensembles.

Destinations The Director of Music will lead the Academic Music Department and teach curriculum music from Key Stage 3 to 5. Over the last 5 years, Decanians have gone on to study music at the Royal College, Royal Academy, Trinity Laban, Bath Spa, Leadership and Management Oxford and Cambridge. In addition to their studies pupils have been awarded choral scholarships to Murray-Edwards and The Director of Music has responsibility for: King’s, Cambridge and Merton and Queen’s, Oxford as well as an organ scholarship to Jesus, Cambridge. • Overseeing and directing all matters relating to music within the School. The Person • Promoting and ensuring a high profile of music with the School, its extended community, and beyond. The successful candidate will be an excellent musician, with a • Leading the annual department review. strong track record of teaching and/or musical direction at all • Overseeing all budgeting matters relating to the Music levels. They will be determined to enthuse young people, with Department. differing levels of music expertise, with the joy of music and the • Overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of the fabric potential that it offers to them. and contents of the Music Department, including the They will be bold, creative and innovative, but respectful of the instruments and IT equipment, and overseeing all aspects musical tradition of the School. of health and safety within the department. • Assigning members of the department in an appropriate Events way to deliver a broad and vibrant co-curricular offering that caters for pupils with different interests and musical The Director of Music has responsibility for: backgrounds. • Managing a team of specialist and visiting teachers, • Coordinating the programme of rehearsals, performances, supporting all aspects of their professional development concerts, services, and other musical events. and maintaining high standards of teaching and practice. • Coordinating a suitable programme of musical visits and • Collaborating with the Director of Drama in the staging of tours. biannual musical productions. • Working closely with Human Resources to ensure all appointments are completed in line with the Foundation’s policies. • Promoting and protecting pupils’ welfare through all aspects of their contribution to School life, following safeguarding and health and safety guidelines. • Participating, as required, in the wider leadership of the School, contributing to pastoral teams and School committees, as appropriate. • Participating in the School’s appraisal arrangements as appraiser and/or appraisee. • Developing relationships with the Heads of Music at Dean Close Prep, Dean Close St Johns and Dean Close Pre-Prep to ensure a consistency of approach and to manage shared resources effectively. • Co-coordinating the individual music lesson timetables and the cohort of visiting teachers.

Teaching

The Director of Music has responsibility for:

• Providing inspirational teaching and leadership within the Academic Music Department and fostering excellence in all that the department does. • Teaching a reduced timetable of academic music lessons. • Planning and preparing courses and lessons. • Assessing, marking, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils. • Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils, both formally and informally. • Setting and following agreed policies in the Departmental Handbook with regard to such matters as programmes of study, assessment, differentiation, SEN, EAL and prep. • Reviewing teaching methods and programmes of work and participating in arrangements for further training and professional development. • Supervising, and, when appropriate, teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available to teach them. This is arranged using the cover system. Admissions, Marketing and Partnership Pastoral

The Director of Music has responsibility for: • Being involved in Lower School and Sixth Form tutoring, as required. • Assessing applications from prospective Music Scholars • Carrying out house duties as directed by the relevant at 11+, 13+ & 16+. Housemaster/Housemistress. • Meeting with visiting prospective parents and pupils. • Carrying out duties as directed by the Deputy Head. • Developing and maintaining links with local feeder schools through regular visits and communication, in order to promote music at the School to prospective pupils and How to apply their parents. • Actively supporting the School’s partnership programme If you wish to apply, please send a completed application form including, but not limited to, the Cheltenham Education and covering letter to: HR by email at [email protected] Partnership and Gloucestershire Academy of Music. by Monday 3rd February 2020. • Working with Dean Close Services to ensure a smooth relationship with external organisations using the Prince Dean Close School is committed to safeguarding DEAN Michael Hall. and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child CLOSE • Providing appropriate musical support for a range of DC protection screening appropriate to the post, CHELTENHAM School events, including those coordinated by the including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. SENIOR S CHOOL Admissions, Marketing, Development and Old Decanians departments. Interviews: Tuesday 11th February 2020 Located in the heart of the Cotswolds

Dean Close School is situated in the South West of England in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, which is close to the picturesque Cotswolds. It is easily reached from Junction 11 of the M5 motorway via the A40, or from the nearby Cheltenham Spa Railway Station. The Edinburgh nearest international airports are Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff which are all about one hour away by car or

Heathrow which is one and a half hours. Belfast The School sits on the largest plot of privately owned land in Cheltenham, just on the outskirts of the Regency town. The Senior School is located on Shelburne Road, Manchester and for SatNav purposes, visitors should enter the postcode GL51 6HE. Visitors should come through the Birmingham Cambridge iron gates into our Visitors’ car park located at the front CHELTENHAM Cardiff of School. London Bristol

Plymouth

www.deanclose.org.uk DEAN CLOSE Scan the code to watch the Music Series on #Deanflix DC 01242 258044 SCHOOLS [email protected] CHELTENHAM